Wednesday, July 31, 2013

An attempt by a Nigerian businessman, Mr.
Washington Umweni to own one of the luxury apartments in Dubai, the
United Arab Emirates, has resulted in a legal tussle between him and the
companies marketing the apartments in Nigeria.

In a suit filed at the Lagos High Court Sigma 111 Limited, TFG Real
Estate Limited and four others plaintiffs have dragged one of their
investors, Umweni and his lawyer, Mr. Tunde Abioje to court asking the
court to compel Umweni to pay his overdue instalments for the purchase
of Unit 2212 TFG Marina, a high luxury apartment hotel situate in Dubai
Media City.

They are also asking for the payment of N170 million as damages
arising from Umweni's refusal to continue to pay the instalments. They
claimed that the refusal of Umweni to fulfil his obligations under the
contract he executed with them constituted a breach of contract.

In his response to the suit, Umweni stated that it was The First
Group who was in breach of their contract hence it made three separate
proposals to make a refund and noted that there would not have been any
problem if the company had refunded him his contributions.

He said: "I am amazed by their action. They earlier claimed in one of
their numerous letters to me that no Nigerian court can delve into this
matter and that I should go to Dubai and sue them there, now, they have
gone to a Nigerian court in Lagos. This shows that they are beginning
to come to terms with reality. I will get justice no matter how long it
takes. The First Group cannot take my money for nothing."
In his statement of defence, Umweni said he was no longer interested
in the TFG Marina Project and wanted his contribution which stood at
N9.7 million refunded to him.

He stated that the project was a mere paper work and that the suit by
the defendants was a cover up to tie down his money. In an affidavit he
deposed and attached to the statement of defence, Umweni said that at
all material time, he was made to believe he was dealing with The First
Group (TFG) and not with the two companies that filed the action against
him.